High-pressure contact switch



Feb. 10, 1931.

H. J. CRABBS ET AL HIGH PRESSURE CONTACT SWITCH Filed Sept. 1;, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheef 1 a m w ATTORNEY Feb. 10, 1931. H. J. CRABBS ET AL HIGH PRESSURE CONTACT SWITCH Filed Sept. 13, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 10, 1931 UNITED STATES- PATENT OFFICE HERBERT J'. CRABIBS, OF IRWIN, AND ALVIN CROFT, OE HUNKEBS, PENNSYLVANIA,

ASSIGNORS TO WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A COR- PORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA HIGH-PRESSURE CONTACT SWITCH Application filed September 13, 1928. Serial No. 305,695.

Our invention relates to switching mechanisms and particularly to disconnecting switches for high-voltage circuits. One object of our invention is to provide a bridging member for a switch of the above mentioned type that shall have a bifurcated member on one end thereof for engaging a stationary contact and thereafter to be ro-' tatively turned to firmly grasp such contact.

Another object of our invention is to provide a disconnecting switch that shall have its bridging member mounted for arcuate and rotative movement by means of a ball and socket support. a

. A further object of our invention is to provide a bridging member for a switch of the above designated type that shall be moved thru approximately a 90 angle and then rotatively moved by means of a simple mechanical arrangement that is positive, in operation and cheap to manufacture.

Our invention will best be understood by I .referring to the drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of an embodiment of our invention.

Fig. 2 is a view, in side elevation, of the structure shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an elevational view of a portion of one end of the embodiment of our invention shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view, in elevation, taken along the line IVIV of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of the hinged portion that pertains to the embodiments of our invention shown in the preceding figures.

Fig. 6 is a view, in elevation similar to that of Fig. 2, except that the switch is shown in its open position.

Our invention comprises, in general, a base or support member 1 upon which are mounted insulating columns 2, 3 and 4 that support the current-carrying and operating portions of the switch and are employed to insulate the current-carrying parts thereof from ground.

The insulating columns 2 and 3 are rigidly mounted on the base 1 and are spaced from each other a distance proportional to the voltumn 2 supports the stationary conta'ct lade age rating of the switch. The insulatin col 6 that is rectangular in cross section, having its greatest dimension in the vertical plane of movement of the switch arm 5 for a reason that will be explained hereinafter. In the 7 rear of the contact blade 6, an arcing horn 7 is positioned, while, in front thereof, a stop 8 is located.

The insulating member 3 supports a frame 9 that has a socket 11 located in its front upper section and has associated therewith a guide slot or groove 12 that is employed to aid in controlling the operation of the switch arm 5. A bridging member or arm 5 has a ball 14 on one of its ends that fits into the socket 11 of the frame 9. In the rear of the ball 14 is an extension 15 that moves in the guide slot or groove 12 to ensure movement of the bridging member 5 nonrotatively in a single plane until the contact blade 6 is engaged, after which the bridging member 5 is turned on its axis to firmly grip the contact blade.

The end of the arm 5, opposite to that upon which the ball 14 is located, has a forked contact member 18 the jaws 19 of which are connected by a spring 21 of U-shape. When the bridging member 5 is moved to circuitclosing position, the jaws 19 loosely embrace the blade 6 so that little, if any, contact is made until the bridging member'is turned upon its axis a suflicient degree to cause the jaws to grip the blade, the space between them being of less width than the contact blade although greater than its thickness.

The insulating column 4 is rotatably mounted on the frame 1 and is actuated through a lever arm 22 by suitable operating means (not shown). The upper part of the insulating column 4 is held in osition by an extension 23 of'the frame 9 and is j ournalled therein. The extension 23 is a current-carry 9. Such an arrangement shunts the current around the ball 14, the socket 11, the extension 15 and the guide channel 12, thereby preventing arcing and pitting of the surfaces of the cooperating moving parts.

Referring to Fig. 6 in which the member 5 is shown in open position, when it is desired to completethe circuit the insulating column 4 is rotated in a counter-clockwise direction to force the bridging member 5 to move forward and downward until the forked contact member 18 passes over the contact blade 6 and the bridging member 5 comes to rest upon the stop 8. During this operation, the bridging member 5 is restrained to a single plane or movement by the extension 15, the guide channel 12, the rigid extension 27 and the forked link 26 that are so connected that a forward movement only can be applied to the member 5 until the arm 25 reaches a position where it is in the plane containing the member 5, and the blade 6, in which position the blade 6 and the jaws 19 will be in engagement.

Further movement of the insulating member 4 turns the member 5 upon its axis which causes the jaws 19 to engage the edges of the blade 6, thereby assuring a good electrical connection therewith.

The opening movement of the switch is the exact reverse of that of closing. Rotative movement of the bridging member 5 takes place first in order to release the jaws 19 from the blade 6 and, thereafter, the bridging member 5 is swung in a vertical plane to open position, an arcing horn 29 being provided to cooperate with the stationary arcing horn 7 in drawing an arc upon the final opening movement of the switch, in a manner well known in the art, thereby relieving the contacts from the arcing and pitting that would otherwise occur.

It will thus be seen that we have provided a bridging member for a switch that may be moved in a single plane until the circuit is completed, after which it is rotatively moved to secure a firm engagement between the separable contact members. This we accomplish by a very cheap and simple mechanical structure comprising a ball and socket hinge joint that has an extension and a guide channel associated therewith in such a manner that the rotation takes place at the initial opening and final closing movements of the'bridging member.

Besides being very cheap and eflicient in operation our switch has the additional advantage of having a small hinge structure, from which the ice, that may form thereon, can be loosened with very little effort.

While we have shown and described only a single embodiment of our invention, we do not wish to be restricted to the specific structure herein set forth, as many changes, additions, subtractions and substitutions may be nected to the socket end of the bridging member and a stationary contact member disposed opposite to the ball and socket and adapted to be initially engaged by the forked contact when the latter is actuated by the linkage system and to be tightly engaged thereby when the bridging member is rotatively moved by a further operation of the linkage system.

2. The combination, in a disconnect switch including apair of spaced stationary insulating members and a rotatable insulating member, of a contact member mounted on one stationary insulating member, a conducting bridging bar having a bifurcated member on one end and a ball and an extension on the other end thereof, a socket and guide for hingedly and rotatably mounting the bar on the second stationary insulating member and a linkage system connect-ing the rotatable insulating member to the bar in such manner that, when the insulating member is rotated, the bar is moved to have the bifurcated member engage the stationary contact member and to rotatively turn thereafter to cause the bifurcated member to tightly grasp the stationary contact member.

3. A bridging member for a disconfnect' switch comprising a conducting bar terminating in a forked member at one end and having a ball and socket member at the other end' for hingedly and rotatably mounting the bridging member, a stationary contact member, a linkage system connected to the bridging .member, and means for guiding the bridging member when actuated by the linkage system to have the forked member engage the stationary'contact member and rotatively turn thereon.

4. In a switch structure, a bridging member including a conducting bar having a forked member on one end and a ball and socket hinge support at its other end, means for guiding the bridging member to permit rotative movement thereof, astationary 0on tact member, and a linkage system connected to the bridging member to impart opening and closing movements thereto, includin rotative motion at the initial opening and nal closing movements thereof.

5. The combination, in a switch structure,

of a bridging member therefor having a ball respectively receive the ball and the extension to 'permit an arcuate and a rotative movement of the bridging member. a

6. The combination, in a switch structure, of a bridging member therefor having a ball and an extension on one end, a socket and a guide on a stationary mounting member to respectively receive the ball and the extension, a stationary contact member and a contact member on the end of the bridging member opposite to the ball and the extension to engage the stationary contactmember under pressure when the said bridging member is turned on its axis.

7. In a switch structure, the combination with a pair of spaced insulators, of a contact blade mounted on one insulator, a conducting bridging member pivotally supported on the other insulator by means of a ball and Q socket connection, a forked contact member on the end of the bridging member, and oper- 'ating mechanism adapted to actuate the bridging member to have the contact member engage the blade and rotatively turn thereon.

2 8. The combination, in a switch structure including a pair of spaced insulators, on one of which a contact member is positioned, the other supporting a conducting bridging member by means of a ball and socket connection, of a contact member on the end ofthe bridging member adapted to be swung into engagement with the first said contact member and to be rotatively turned. i

In testimony whereof, we have hereunto 85 subscribed our names this 5th day of September, 1928. v

' HERBERT J. CRABBS.

ALVIN CROFT. 

